In an era in which mental hospital administrators are confronted by sh
rinking budgets and cost containment strategies in order to survive, t
he recently enacted Americans with Disabilities Act requires their spe
cial attention. This article addresses the anticipated effect of the A
DA upon inpatient psychiatric facilities. We assume that adminstrators
should anticipate increased ligation and settlement costs associated
with specialized services to deaf and other qualifying patients who se
ek equal access to psychiatric services provided in mental hospitals.
It is our view that adminsitrators can reduce the cost of implementing
specialized services to deaf patient by developing a proactive plan o
f implementation. The authors analyze recent court consent decrees, an
d offer a three step plan for implementation.